Big dog kills small service dog on Portland bus

The owner of the Rottweiler/Shar-Pei mix is suspended for 30
days by TriMet

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

STUART TOMLINSON

The Oregonian Staff

A big dog killed a small dog standing at its owner's
feet on a TriMet bus Sunday afternoon, an agency spokeswoman
said Monday.

The smaller animal, a Pomeranian, was a service dog and
therefore authorized to travel on the bus. The larger one, a
mix between a Rottweiler and a Shar-Pei, was not. Its owner
was subsequently barred from riding TriMet buses and trains
for 30 days.

Marie Kelemen of Portland and her Pomeranian were riding the
No. 75-39th Avenue/Lombard bus around 4:15 p.m. near North
Interstate Boulevard and Lombard Street when the much larger
dog attacked, said Peggy LaPoint of TriMet.

LaPoint said Leroy Morley was sitting farther back on the
bus -- but in front of the rear door -- with his 50-pound
Rottweiler/Shar-Pei. At some point, Morley walked toward the
front of the bus to exit.

As he passed Keleman's leashed Pomeranian,
Morley's dog attacked. The Pomeranian died at the
scene.

Transit Police responded to the incident, LaPoint said.
According to the driver, Morley had been on the bus first,
Kelemen got on later.

"The driver was pretty upset" by the canine
assault, LaPoint said.

John Rowton, a spokesman for Multnomah County Animal
Services, said "the case had been referred to us, but
we haven't seen the report and we're waiting for a
copy of the video from the bus' surveillance
camera."

According to TriMet's Web site, service dogs are
allowed to ride TriMet buses and trains but must be kept on
a leash or in a container.

"Service animals are welcome on TriMet," the rules
state. "No permit is required, but you may be asked to
confirm that your animal is a service animal."

Rowton said service dogs can perform a broad range of duties
for their owners.

"Some can alert when they sense their owner is going to have an epileptic seizure," he said....

Big dog kills small service dog on Portland bus

The owner of the Rottweiler/Shar-Pei mix is suspended for 30
days by TriMet

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

STUART TOMLINSON

The Oregonian Staff

A big dog killed a small dog standing at its owner's
feet on a TriMet bus Sunday afternoon, an agency spokeswoman
said Monday.

The smaller animal, a Pomeranian, was a service dog and
therefore authorized to travel on the bus. The larger one, a
mix between a Rottweiler and a Shar-Pei, was not. Its owner
was subsequently barred from riding TriMet buses and trains
for 30 days.

Marie Kelemen of Portland and her Pomeranian were riding the
No. 75-39th Avenue/Lombard bus around 4:15 p.m. near North
Interstate Boulevard and Lombard Street when the much larger
dog attacked, said Peggy LaPoint of TriMet.

LaPoint said Leroy Morley was sitting farther back on the
bus -- but in front of the rear door -- with his 50-pound
Rottweiler/Shar-Pei. At some point, Morley walked toward the
front of the bus to exit.

As he passed Keleman's leashed Pomeranian,
Morley's dog attacked. The Pomeranian died at the
scene.

Transit Police responded to the incident, LaPoint said.
According to the driver, Morley had been on the bus first,
Kelemen got on later.

"The driver was pretty upset" by the canine
assault, LaPoint said.

John Rowton, a spokesman for Multnomah County Animal
Services, said "the case had been referred to us, but
we haven't seen the report and we're waiting for a
copy of the video from the bus' surveillance
camera."

According to TriMet's Web site, service dogs are
allowed to ride TriMet buses and trains but must be kept on
a leash or in a container.

"Service animals are welcome on TriMet," the rules
state. "No permit is required, but you may be asked to
confirm that your animal is a service animal."

Rowton said service dogs can perform a broad range of duties
for their owners.

"Some can alert when they sense their owner is going to have an epileptic seizure," he said....